Chime



Nov. 10, 1931. G. L. BOSSARD 1,831,552

CHTME Filed July 50, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l anon Wot NOV. 10, 1931.BOSSARD 1,831,552

CHIME Filed July 30, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E-zq.4.

fig. 5

Nov'.'l), 1931.

ja /Z G. L. BOSSARD Filed July 30, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov.10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GISBERT LUDOTZF BOS SARD, OFDAYTON, HIO, ASSIGNOR T GENERAL KONTROILAB COMPANY, INC., OF DAYTON,QHIO, A CORPORATION OF 0316) @HIME Application filed July 30, 1930.Serial No. 471,814.

This invention relates tomusical chimes, and more particularly to chimesthat are electrically driven and controlled.

One object of the invention is the provision of an electrically drivenchime in which the energizing circuit for an electric motor which drivesthe chime mechanism is manually controlled.

Another object of the invention is the provision ofa chime of sturdy andcompact construction adapted to produce a predetermined sequence ofmusical notes when a controlling electrical contact is closed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a chime havingchime sounding mechanism driven by a single electric motor to produce apredetermined sequence of sounds of various tones, means being providedfor starting the motor when desired but so arranged that the motor isopen-circuited automatically at the end of the desired sequence ofsounds.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device forproducing a pre- 0 determined desired series of notes, the device beingcompact and of simple and cheap construction and adapted to operateefiectively over long periods of time without care or attention.-

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the appended claims and the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an electrical chimeembodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the chime operating mechanism, shown partly insection;

. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of the electrical connections;

Fi g. 10 is a detailed view partly in section, of the chime hanger; and

Fig. 11 is a top plan View of a chime mechanism contained in a modifiedform of housmg.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which preferred forms ofthe invention are shown, 10, 11, 12 and 13 represent chime sounders,preferably although of course not necessarily in the form of hollowtubes of brass or other suitable metal. When the chime SOLIIldBI'S' areof tubular form, they are preferably of the same diameter and ofdifferent lengths; as shown in Fig. 1, so as to produce tones ofdifierent pitch. The lower ends of the tubes are open, while their upperends are closed by metal plugs 14 integrally connected at the tops ofthe tubes.

Some little distance belowtheir upper ends,

each tube is shown with a pair of small holes 15 through which thesuspending cable 16, of loop form, extends. This loop extends up over atriangle of metal or the like 18, the

top ofwhich is slotted, and the sides of which project out beyond thesides of the tube so that the cable 16 will not be in contact with theupper end of the tube and thus interfere with the free vibration of thetube. The suspending triangles 18 are hung on pins 19 which project outfrom a cover plate 20 connected to the supporting housing box 21, andthe pins aregrooved circumferentially to receive the tops of the cableloops whic rest directly in the grooves in the pins, as they extend downthrough the slots in the tops of the triangles 18. This form of sup portdefinitely locates the chimes with respect to their supporting pins.Preferably the pins are adjustably mounted for axial movement on thecover plate 20. The cover plate 20 and the housingbox 21 are preferablyof sheet metal and the cover plate 20 is preferably suitably finished topresent a pleasing appearance. A hood 20' is suitably attached to thecover plate 20 and provides an enclosure for the hangers and upperends'ot the chime tubes. As shown, the hood 20' ex' late and tends thefull width of the cover provides a housing having a close top and sides,and an open bottom having a defining edge some distance below the top ofthe chime tu es.

The main supporting housing box 21 may be recessed in a wall, indicatedat 22, and contains the chime sounding mechanism designated generally23. The housing box .21 is shown projecting out a little ways from theouter surface of the wall and is overlapped by the rearwardly extendingflanges on the cover plate 20, these parts being connected by screws 24to enclose the chime sounding mechanism and protect the same.

The chime sounders, any desired number of which may be provided, aresounded by hammers 26, 27, 28 and 29 which are so positioned as tostrike the tubes 10, 11, 12 and 13 respectively through holes 30provided in the cover plate of the housing. Each hammer is provided witha striking nose 32, of wood or other suitable material, the nose 32being held by a nut 33 threaded on the stud 34. The noses 32 are longenough to project through the holes 30 in-the housing cover and strikethe chime tubes when the hammers are operated, the holes 30 beingsomewhat larger than the diameter of the striking noses but preferablysmaller than the nuts 33. As the only openings in the enclosing houslngare the clearance holes 30 for the striking hammers, and these arepractically closed by the projecting noses 32 and the adjacent nuts 33when in normal position, a substantially dustproof enclosure is providedfor the chime actuating mechanism.

The hammers 26 to 29 inclusive are operated in predetermined order bymeans of an electric motor designated generally 36. The armature shaft37 of the motor carries a flat disc 38 of aluminum or the like whichrevolves between shaded ole pieces 39 and 40 of an electromagnet 41ormed preferably of strips of laminated soft iron. The poles 39.

and 40 are shaded by copper rings 42 and 43 respectively .to produce aturning effect on the disc 38 and consequent operation of the armatureshaft 37 when the coil 44 of the electromagnet is energized byalternating current. The coil 44 is preferably designed for alternatingcurrent of commercial frequency at a low voltage, that is at a voltagevery considerably below the ordinary 110 volt value. The energizingcircuit for the coil 44, as shown in Fig. 9, includes the wire 46, thesecondary 47 of a transformer 48, the wire 49, the contact fingers 50and 51 and the I wire 52. When the contact fingers 50 and 51 are closed,the energizing circuit of the electric motor is completed, the primaryof transformer 48 being connected to a house wiring circuit of 110 voltsor other suitable commercial frequency. The transformer 48 is preferablylocated at a point remote from the sounding mechanism so that the wireslead- 6 ing to the sounding mechanism and its hous- 'wardly as indicatedat 58 and is ing are of low voltage, minimizing the fire hazard.

The energized circuit of the electric motor is preferably controlledmanually from a remote point. The controlling circuit for the energizingcircuit includes the manually operable switch or push button 54, amagnet coil 55 and the secondary 47 at the transformer. When the pushbutton 54 is operated to close the controlling circuit, low voltagecurrent is supplied to the magnet coil 55 energizing the same so as toattract its armature 56 which is pivotally mounted at 57. One end of thearmature 56 is bent uprovided with a knob 59 of insulating materiawhich, when the magnet coil 55 is energized, presses the contact finger50 against the contact finger 51 to close the energizing circuit of theelectric motor. When the push button 54 is in its open circuit position,the magnet coil 55 is not energized, but suitable means are provided, aswill be presently described, to. maintain the armature 56 in itsattracted position even though the magnet coil 55 is deenergized, untilapredetermined, sequence of operations has taken place. The armature 56carries in threaded engagement a brass adjusting screw 56'- which isprovided to regulate the device for varying operating conditions.

The push button 54 may be provided in the usual location of a door bellof a residence so that the chime. can be used for in dicating whensomeone is at the door and 100 wants admittance, this indication beingvery pleasing and musical as distinguished from the harsh and annoyingclatter of a bell, especially when the chime is so designed as to strikethe notes of the Westminster chimes .105 or some other pleasingarrangement of notes.

It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited tothis particular use of'the chime, as it may be used for giving anindication of any other fact. Thus it may 110 be used as a call fordinner, or manually controlled whenever desired to produce the pleasingnotes intended.

When energized, the electric motor turns the shaft 37 which is rotatablymounted in 115 the side plates 60 and 61-, the rear ends of which may beheld to a back plate-62 by means of angles 63 and suitable attachingscrews 64. The back plate 62, which supports the operating mechanism, isadapted 120 to be fastened to the rear side of the houslng box 21 byscrews 65 or in any other suitab e manner, permitting the ready removalof the entire operating mechanism as a unit whenever desired.

Qn one end of the armature shaft 37 is a p n on 67 which meshes with agear 68. A plnion 69 fixed to the gear 68 drives gear 70, the (powerbeing transmitted by a gear 71 fixe to gear and engaging with gear 72180 secured b a set screw 73 to a transversely extending s aft74 whichis parallel to the ar- Rigid with each of the pin discs 75 and 7 6- is ahub 77 provided with a set screw 78 which removably or adjustablyfastens the pin disc on the shaft.

Below the shaft 74 is a transverse shaft 80 which is rotatably mountedin the side plates 60 and 61 and projects laterally beyond the platesproviding a pivotal support for hammer supporting arms 81, 82, 83 and84. These arms are mounted freely on the shaft 80 and each supports arod 86 the upper end of which carries a chime hammer. The rods 86 arepreferably rather heavy metal wires the upper ends of which may proj ectup through the studs 34 of the hammers to which they are secured byscrews 35. One form of connection between the, rods 86 and theircarrying arms is shown in Fig. 5 for example, the rod being reverselybent through spaced parallel holes in the arm 81, thus rigidly securingthe arm to the rod in a simple manner. The rod extends down past itscarrying arm and is provided with an upturned end 87 which ears againsta long stud 88 suitably fixed to .and extending through the side plate's60 and 61. When the upstanding lower end 87 of the hammer rod is inengagement with the stud 88, with the hammer at rest, the nose of thehammer isjust slightly spaced away from the adjacent side of its chimetube, but the lower end of the hammer. rod has suflicientflexibility,,due to its reversely bent form, so that when the hammer israised and permitted to fall the nose of the hammer will strike the tubeand then immediately rebound, being held from striking a second time bythe yielding engagement of the upturned end 87 with the stud 88. Thearrangement is such that the resiliency in the hammer does not overcomethe kinetic energy during striking movements of the hammer buteffectively acts against the weight of, the hammer when not in motion orwhen moving only slowly.

The pin disc 75 in Fig. 5 is shown provided with five pins 89, soarranged as to successively push the upper end of the .arm 81 to theleft during normal clockwise movement of the pin disc. The hammer isshown in its normal position in this figure, but is about ready to beraised by the engagement of the lowest pin 89 with the upper end of thearm 81, and when this occurs the arm 81 will be rocked counterclockwiseso as to raise the hammer. Then when the'pin passes along andfrees theupper end'of the arm 81 the hammer will fall due to its weight andstrike against the chime tube with which it cooper ates. On the otherside of the disc 75 is a second series of pins which engage with the arm82 carrying the hammer 27. In the same way hammers 28 and 29 areoperated by the pins on the pin disc 76, the arrangement of the variouspins on the pin discsbeing such as to provide for a definite sequence ofoperation of the hammers to produce a desired tone series. As mentionedabove, the pin discs are readily removable so that if desired they maybe replaced by other discs having different arrangements of pins toproduce a different tone sequence upon operation.

The electric motor is arranged so that it will continue in operationuntil a predetermined sequence of hammer movements has taken place andwill then automatically stop. It will be noted that theshaft 74 carriesa collar 90 which is loosely rotatable on the shaft and which isprovided with opposed slots 91 at its end, the shaft 74 being providedwith a transversely extending pin 92 positioned Within the slotsmentioned. The slots 91 are somewhat larger than the diameter of the pinso that only limited rotational movement of the collar 90 on the shaft74 is permitted, endwise movement being prevented by the pin 92 and asleeve 93 secured to the shaft. A spiral spring 94 is connected at oneend to a stud 95 on the collar and at its other 3.

end to the pin 92, this spring acting normally to hold the side 96 ofthe notch 91 against the pin 92 in a yielding manner. In other words iturges the collar 90 in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 6with relation to the shaft 74. On the collar 90 is a flange 97 which isnotched at 98, the notch normally receiving a downturned end 99 of thearmature 56 as shown in Fig. 6, when the device is stationary. When themagnet coil 55. is energized by pressing on the push button 54, thearmature 56 is drawn upwardly and its end 99 is pulled up out of thenotch 98 thus permitting the shaft 74 to be rotated by the motor, theend 99 of the armature riding on the cylindrical surface of the flange97 until it again drops into the notch 98. It will be seen that thearmature 56 will be held in its up position so as to maintain the.electrical contact between the contact fingers 50 and 51 even though thepush button 54 is only closed instantaneously. The energlzing circuit ofthe electric motor will thus be mainon the pin discs 75 and 7 6willcause the successive operation of the chime hammers in apredetermined manner depending upon the arrangement of the pins in thepm discs.

At about the end of a complete cycle of operations the .slot 98 will-bein position to receive the downwardly extended end 99 of the armature56, and the shaft74. will be moving. counterclockwise as viewed insFig.

a the rotating parts will'cause the shaft 74 to rotate through somelittle angle after the -motor has been deenergized thus winding up thespring 94 a little it bringing the collar 90 into the relationship shownin Fig. 8, with respect to the shaft 74. The shaft 74 will be positivelystopped with the collar in this position, and with the armature end 99engaging the right-hand side of the notch 98, see Fig. 6. As'the collar90 is tensioned in a counterclockwise direction, at the end of acomplete cycle of operations, as soon as the push button 54 is closedagain and the magnet coil 55 energize again to attract its armature, thecollar 90 will spring forward, or in a counterclockwise direction asshown in Figs. 6 and 7 the very instant that the armature end 99 isremoved from the notch. Without this arrangement, or its equivalent,closure of the push button 54 for only an instant. might result in thearmature end 99 falling back into the notch before the moving parts getstarted, but with the device shown the armature end 99 cannot get backinto the notch as the latter is moved forward by the spring 94: as soonas the armature end is withdrawn, and the device is thus compelled tocomplete a full cycle of operations until it is automatically stoppedagain by the fall bf the armature end 99 into the notch 98.

It will now be clear that there is an energizing circuit for the motorand a controlling circuit for the energizing circuit, the controllingcircuitbeing such that it need be only closed for an instant, or suchthat it can be maintained if desired. Thus when the device is used inplace of a door bell for giving a pleasant musical indicatlon whensomeone is at the door, the vlsiting party need only press the pushbutton 54 for an instant, or he can press it three or four times I insuccession but regardless of how the push button 54; is operated, andregardless of how long it is maintained in circuit closing position thedesired signal of the chime will be produced.

All of the electrical wires leading to the housing or container box areof low voltage as the transformer 48 is provided at a point remote fromthe box, in suitable location.

The box, when recessed in thewall, may have outlet holes 100 preferablyback of the. face of the wall, through which the w1res leading to theelectric motor and the magnet coil export. 103 designates a wall orother support to which the chime housing is fastene In this case thechime housing embodies a flanged supporting plate 104, the laterallyextending flanges 105 of which may be screwed to the support 103. Thesupporting plate is preferably of substantially flattened U-shape, andits larger face or wall 106 serves as a support for the chime tubes 107and also for the hammer operating mechanism 108, the side plates 109 ofwhich may be secured directly to the face 106 by means of the anglepieces 110. The striking noses of the ham mers operate through holes inthe face 106 just as they do through the cover plate 20 in the form ofthe invention first described.

As the chime tubes 107 are hung from the studs 111 connected directly tothe face 106, it will be understood that the relationship of the chimeswith respect to the hammers at the top of the supporting plate 104,being removably fastened in any suitable manner as by a suitable snapconnection at the upper sides of that portion of the supporting platewhich projects out away from the wall.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferredembodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departin from the scope of the invention whichisde ned in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrically driven chime of the class described, comprising chimesounder means, hammer means for said chime sounder means, a rotatabledisc operatively connected to said hammer means, a shaded pole inductionmagnet cooperatively associated with said disc, and means forcontrolling the energization ofsaid magnet to obtain a predeterminedsequence of hammer movements.

2. An electrically driven chime of the class described comprising ahousing, a series of chimemembers supported exteriorly. of said housing,hammers for said chime members, means within said housing for operatingsaid hammer s, said housing having a wall between the chime members andthe hammer operating mechanism provided with holes through which theends of the hammers project into engagement with the chime members.

3. An electrically driven chime of the class described comprising ahousing, a series of chime members supported exteriorly of said housing,hammers for. said chime members, means within said housing for operatingsaid hammers, said housing having a wall between the chime members andthe hammer operating mechanism provided with holes through which theends of the hammers project into engagement with the chime members, saidhammers when in normal position being in close setting relation to saidhousing holes to provide a substantially dust-proof housing. c

4. A chime of theclass described comprising a chime member, means forsuspending said chime member, said suspending means comprising a hangermember in looped engagement with said chime member, and a spreadermember adapted to space said hanggr member from the top of said chimememer. v

5. A chime of the class described comprising a chime member, means forsuspending said chime member, said suspending means comprising a hangermember in looped engagement with said chime member, and a spreadermember of substantially triangular shape, said spreader -member having aface extending transversely of the chime member and of, greater lengththan the width ofsaid chime member, said spreader member being adaptedto provide a guide for the exposed length of said hanger member.

6. An electrically driven chime of the class described, comprising chimesounder means, an electric motor, mechanism driven by said motor forcausing the striking of the chime sounder means, an energizing circuitfor said motor, a manually operated switch controlling said energizingcircuit, and means for maintaining said energizing circuit closed for apredetermined interval even though the manual switch is operated onlyinstantaneously.

7. An electrically driven chime of the class described, comprising chimesounder means, an electric motor, mechanism driven by said motor forcausing the'striking of the chime sounder means, an energizing circuitfor said motor, means for maintaining said energizing circuit for apredetermined constant in-: terval, and a manually controlled circuitfor closing said energizing circuit.

8. An electrically driven chime of the class described, comprising chimesounder means,

an electric motor, mechanism driven by said motor for causing thestriking of said chime sounder means in a definite predetermined manner,an energizing circuit for said motor including a switch, a controllingcircuit for said energizing circuit including a magnet for operatingsaid switch, a secondswitch in saidcontrolling circuit, and means openated by said motor for maintaining said first-named switch closed for apredetermined interval.

9. An electrically driven chime of the class described, comprising chimesounder means, a low voltage alternating current motor, mechanism drivenby said motor for striking the chime sounder means, an energizingcircuit for said motor, a manually controlled circuit controlling theclosing of said energizing circuit, and means automatically operatingafter a predetermined cycle of operations of the motor for interruptingsaid energizing circuit.

10. An electrically driven chime of the class described, comprisingchime sounder means, hammer means for striking said chime sounder means,a rotatable disk, a shaded pole induction magnet cooperativelyassociated with said disk, a series of pins operatively connected tosaid disk for controlling the operation of said hammer means, and manualmeans for controlling the energization of the magnet.

11. An electrically driven chime of the class described, comprising aseries of chime members of different tone, a rotatable disk, a

shaded pole induction magnet cooperatively associated with said disk andadapted for low voltage alternating current energization, a series ofhammers for said members, mechanism operated by said disk forsuccessively operating said hammers in a predetermined definite manner,means supporting all of said elements inside a: building, and meansoutside the building controlling the energization of saidmagnet. I

12. An electrically driven chime of'the class described, comprising achime member, an electric motor, a striker for said chime member,mechanism operated by said motor for controlling said striker in apredeter- .mined definite manner, an energizing circuit for said motor,a manually controlled circuit for controlling said energizing circuit,means operated by said motor for maintaining sai energizing circuitclosed until a cycle of operations is completed and a spring for movingsaid means instantaneously when the manually controlled circuit isenergized and before the motor starts operating.

13. An electrically driven chime of the class described, comprising aseries of chime members of difierent tone, an electric motor, a seriesof hammers for said members, mechanism operated by said motor forsuccessively operating said hammers in a predetermined definite manner,an energizing circuit for said motor including a switch and'acontrolling coil therefor, a manually controlled circuit including saidcontrolling coil for closing said energizing circuit, holding means forholding said energizing circuit switch closed, a spring and a stopmember, said stop memher being operabiy connected by said spring to saidmotor so. that immediately upon energization of said coil said stopmember is spring-pressed into holding engagement with said holdingmeans.

14. An electrically driven device of the class described, comprisingsounder members of different tones, an electric motor for operating saidsounder members, an energizing circuit for said motor, a motor startingswitch, a spring, and a mechanical stop for positively stopping saidelectric motor through said spring after a completed cycle ofoperations, the spring acting to instantly release said motor when themanual starting switch is closed.. 7

15. An electrically driven device of the class described, comprising acasing, sounder members of different tone supported exteriorly on saidcasing, an electric motor supported in said casing, mechanism in saidcasing driven by said \motor for operatmg said sounder members, anenergizing circuit for said motor including a pair of contact fingers,

an electromagnet having an armature controlling said contact fingers, acontrolling circuit for energizing said electromagnet, and meansoperable instantly upon energizat on of said controlling circuit formaintaining said contact fingers in motor energizmg relationship until apredetermined operation of the motor has been completed.

16. An electrically driven devlce of the class described, comprisingsounder members of different tone, an electric motor, mechanism drivenby said motor for operating said sounder members, an energizing circuitfor said motor including a pair of contact fingers, an electromagnethaving an armature controlling said contact fingers, a remotelypositioned manually controllable sw tch for energizing saidelectromagnet, spring pressed means for maintaining said armature 1noperative position after closing of said remo ely positioned switchuntil after a predeterminea cycle of operation of the motor, said meansbeing adapted to automatically posltively sto the motor and energize thespring at the en -of the redetermined cycle of operation.

17. An e ectrically driven chime of the class described, comprising aseries of chime members of different tone, an electric motor, a shaftoperated by said'motor and having several series of hammer operatingpins, a

pivotally supported hammer for each chime member operated by said pinsin a predetermined manner so as to be raised and permitted to dropfreelyunder the force of gravity succemively in a definite predeterminedmanner, and means controlling the operation of said electric motor. I

18. An electrically driven chime of the class described, comprisingchime sounder means, hammer means cooperating with said sounder means,means for'freely pivotally supporting said hammer means, an electricmotor for raising said hammer means, a stop,

said hammer means being .extended away from its striking and be end itspivotal support and engaging sai stop in a yielding manner just beforethe hammer means is in contact with the sounder means.

19. An electrically driven chime of the class described comprising aninduction disk alternating current motor, a series of chime membersoperated by said motor, a casing mounted in a building wall supportingsaid chime members and enclosing said motor, and a remotely locatedswitch provided outside the building for energizing said motor.

20. An electrically driven chime of the class described comprising ahousing having a front cover plate, a series of chime soundersexternally hung on said plate,,chime operating mechanism detachablyfastened within said housing and including an electric motor andstriking mechanism operated by said motor.

21. An electrically driven chime of the class described, comprisingchime sounder means, hammer means cooperating with said sounder means,means for pivotally supporting said hammer means, and frictional meansproviding rubbingengagement with said hammer means for braking theaction of said hammer means as it strikes the sounding means to preventsounding a false note.

22. A chime of the class described comprismg a supporting plate, aseries of chime members, chime supports adjustably mounted on said plateand providing for adjustment of the positions of the chime memberstoward and away from the plate, and mechanism supported on the oppositeside of said plate from the chime members for operating said chimemembers. i

' 23. A chime of the class described comprismg a supporting plate, chimemembers supported from one side of said plate, a frame attached directlyto the other side of said plate, mechanism supported in said frameincluding an electric motor and motor operated chime strikers, and anenclosing casing around said mechanism.

24. A chime of the class described comprismg a supporting plate, chimemembers mounted on said plate, a frame supported on the opposite side ofsaid plate and comprising spaced frame members extending transversely ofsaid plate, a motor driven shaft journaled in said frame, wheels mountedon said shaft on opposite sides of said frame and externally of saidframe members, pin series on said wheels, and chime strikers operated bysaid pin series.

25. An electrically driven chime of the class described comprising ahousing, a series of chime sounders externally hung on said housing,electrically controlled, means with-" in said housing, and a chime coverfixed to said housing, said chime cover extending over and enclosingonly the top ends of the chime sounders.

26. An electrically driven chime of the class described comprising ahousing, a series of chime Sounders externally hung on said housing,chime operating mechanlsm mounted within said housing and including anelectric motor and striking mechanism controlled by said motor, and achime cover fixed to 10 said housing, said chime cover extending overand enclosing the top ends of the chime sounders.

27. An electrically driven chime comprising chime sounder means, anelectric motor controlling the operation of said sounder means in apredetermined manner, an energizing circuit for said motor including apair of contact fingers, an alternating current electromagnet having apivoted armature controlling said contact fingers, a controlling circuitfor said electromagnet, means for maintaining said armature in attractedposition for a predetermined cycle of motor operation, and means forrelative adjustment of the electromagnet and armature.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

GISBERT LUDOLF BOSSARD.

